Bin for a roof rack

Abstract

A roof rack system for a vehicle is provided that has a vehicle roof rack and a storage bin connected to the vehicle roof rack. The storage bin has a bin portion with an opening and an interior portion and a closure member having a hinge portion such that the closure member selectively covers the opening and provides access to the interior portion of the bin portion. The hinge portion is positioned in an upwind location with respect to a presumed wind direction such that the closure member opens towards the presumed wind direction to allow access into the interior portion.

1 . A roof rack system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a vehicle roof rack;    a storage bin connected to the vehicle roof rack, wherein the storage bin comprises: 
 a bin portion having an opening and an interior portion; and  
 a closure member having a hinge portion such that the closure member selectively covers the opening and provides access to the interior portion of the bin portion;  
 wherein the hinge portion is positioned in an upwind location with respect to a presumed wind direction such that the closure member opens towards the presumed wind direction to allow access into the interior portion.  
   
   
   
       2 . The roof rack system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a latching mechanism detachably connecting the closure member to the bin portion;    wherein the hinge member and the latching mechanism cooperate to selectively cover the opening and detachably connect the closure member to the bin portion.    
   
   
       3 . The roof rack system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a leeward side of the closure member extending substantially perpendicular to the presumed wind direction; and    a mating face on the bin portion extending substantially vertical with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the mating face is adjacent to the leeward side when the closure member is in a closed position.    
   
   
       4 . The roof rack system according to  claim 2 , wherein the storage bin further comprises: 
 a bottom portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to a roof of the vehicle; and    a windward portion adjacent to and upwind of the closure member with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the windward portion has an aerodynamic shape that is adapted to reduce wind drag from wind coming from the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       5 . The roof rack system according to  claim 4 , wherein the bottom portion further comprises: 
 at least a first surface defining a first depth of the interior portion; and    at least a second surface defining a second depth of the interior portion;    wherein the first surface and the second surface are adapted to substantially correspond to a shape of a roof of the vehicle.    
   
   
       6 . The roof rack system according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the windward portion has a larger angle than the closure member with respect to the presumed wind direction; and    the windward portion and closure member cooperate to form an aerodynamic shape with respect to the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       7 . The roof rack system according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the windward portion is adapted to connect to a roof of the vehicle at a location adjacent to a windshield of the vehicle; and    the windward portion has a slope substantially equal to a slope of the windshield.    
   
   
       8 . The roof rack system according to  claim 6 , wherein the closure member further comprises: 
 a first portion that is substantially planar and which extends substantially parallel to the presumed wind direction; and    a second portion positioned at an upwind location from the first portion with respect to the presumed wind direction, wherein the second portion has a greater angle than the first portion with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the first portion and the second portion cooperate to form an aerodynamic shape with respect to the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       9 . The roof rack system according to  claim 8 , wherein the closure member is positioned substantially flush with or below a level of the roof rack with respect to a normal orientation of the roof rack and the bin portion.  
   
   
       10 . A storage bin for a roof rack system, comprising: 
 a bin portion having an opening and an interior portion; and    a closure member having a hinge portion such that the closure member selectively covers the opening and provides access to the interior portion of the bin portion;    wherein the hinge portion is positioned in an upwind location with respect to a presumed wind direction such that the closure member opens towards the presumed wind direction to allow access into the interior portion.    
   
   
       11 . The storage bin according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a latching mechanism detachably connecting the closure member to the bin portion;    wherein the hinge member and the latching mechanism cooperate to selectively cover the opening and detachably connect the closure member to the bin portion.    
   
   
       12 . The storage bin according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a leeward side of the closure member extending substantially perpendicular to the presumed wind direction; and    a mating face on the bin portion extending substantially vertical with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the mating face is adjacent to the leeward side when the closure member is in a closed position.    
   
   
       13 . The storage bin according to  claim 11 , wherein the storage bin further comprises: 
 a bottom portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to a roof of the vehicle; and    a windward portion adjacent to and upwind of the closure member with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the windward portion has an aerodynamic shape that is adapted to reduce wind drag from wind coming from the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       14 . The storage bin according to  claim 13 , wherein the bottom portion further comprises: 
 at least a first surface defining a first depth of the interior portion; and    at least a second surface defining a second depth of the interior portion;    wherein the first surface and the second surface are adapted to substantially correspond to a shape of a roof of a vehicle.    
   
   
       15 . The storage bin according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the windward portion has a larger angle than the closure member with respect to the presumed wind direction;    the windward portion and closure member cooperate to form an aerodynamic shape with respect to the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       16 . The storage bin according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the windward portion is adapted to connect to a roof of the vehicle at a location adjacent to a windshield of the vehicle; and    the windward portion has a slope substantially equal to a slope of the windshield.    
   
   
       17 . The storage bin according to  claim 15 , wherein the closure member further comprises: 
 a first portion that is substantially planar and which extends substantially parallel to the presumed wind direction; and    a second portion positioned at an upwind location from the first portion with respect to the presumed wind direction, wherein the second portion has a greater angle than the first portion with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the first portion and the second portion cooperate to form an aerodynamic shape with respect to the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       18 . The storage bin according to  claim 17 , further comprising a means for latching the closure member in a closed position.  
   
   
       19 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a roof rack attached to a roof of the vehicle;    a storage bin connected to the vehicle roof rack, wherein the storage bin comprises: 
 a bin portion having an opening and an interior portion; and  
 a closure member having a hinge portion such that the closure member selectively covers the opening and provides access to the interior portion of the bin portion;  
 wherein the hinge portion is positioned in an upwind location with respect to a presumed wind direction such that the closure member opens towards the presumed wind direction to allow access into the interior portion.  
   
   
   
       20 . The vehicle according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a latching mechanism detachably connecting the closure member to the bin portion;    wherein the hinge member and the latching mechanism cooperate to selectively cover the opening and detachably connect the closure member to the bin portion.    
   
   
       21 . The vehicle according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a leeward side of the closure member extending substantially perpendicular to the presumed wind direction;    a mating face on the bin portion extending substantially vertical with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the mating face is adjacent to the leeward side when the closure member is in a closed position.    
   
   
       22 . The vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein the storage bin further comprises: 
 a bottom portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to the roof of the vehicle; and    a windward portion adjacent to and upwind of the closure member with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the windward portion has an aerodynamic shape that is adapted to reduce wind drag from wind coming from the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       23 . The vehicle according to  claim 22 , wherein the bottom portion further comprises: 
 at least a first surface defining a first depth of the interior portion; and    at least a second surface defining a second depth of the interior portion;    wherein the first surface and the second surface are adapted to substantially correspond to a shape of the roof of the vehicle.    
   
   
       24 . The vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the windward portion has a larger angle than the closure member with respect to the presumed wind direction; and    the windward portion and closure member cooperate to form an aerodynamic shape with respect to the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       25 . The vehicle according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the windward portion is adapted to connect to the roof of the vehicle at a location adjacent to a windshield of the vehicle; and    the windward portion has a slope substantially equal to a slope of the windshield.    
   
   
       26 . The vehicle according to  claim 24 , wherein the closure member further comprises: 
 a first portion that is substantially planar and which extends substantially parallel to the presumed wind direction; and    a second portion positioned at an upwind location from the first portion with respect to the presumed wind direction, wherein the second portion has a greater angle than the first portion with respect to the presumed wind direction;    wherein the first portion and the second portion cooperate to form an aerodynamic shape with respect to the presumed wind direction.    
   
   
       27 . The vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the closure member is positioned substantially flush with or below a level of the roof rack with respect to a normal orientation of the roof rack and the bin portion.